Another night, another lackluster offensive performance for these 2014 Boston Red Sox. Held to three-hits by the immortal Vidal Nuno and three Yankees relievers, the talk after the game was about how the schedule-makers have hurt the Sox this year and how the team was close to breaking-out and what a fine job Brandon Workman did in getting through seven-innings. In fact, other than Big Papi grumbling about the schedule, the post-game commentary could have been a replay of just about any of the other 44 Sox losses this year.

Now that the team has shut down the rehab assignments of both Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks the clamor for the organization to promote Mookie Betts will only increase. Betts has played little over 20-games at Pawtucket, but has continued to get on base (his career OBP is .408) - just as he has done at every other level of professional baseball - and create some excitement. At 5 feet 9 inches tall, the 21-year old Betts certainly doesn't project as a power hitter, but his ability to get on base is becoming legendary.

Last night, after putting Victorino and his failing body back on the shelf, the PawSox started Betts in rightfield for the first time. It is remarkable and almost Brock Holt-like that while Betts has moved from second base (his career position, but where he is blocked by Dustin Pedroia) to the outfield his offensive productivity has not wavered. Asking such a young player to learn a new position on the fly should conceivably lead to some growing pains, but Betts is defying ordinary thinking.

I would like to see Betts get his shot with the big club at some point this summer, but right now to thrust this young player into the role of team savior on this flailing bunch might prove to be a much higher hurdle than the Sox want him to handle. While the Red Sox have some potential to break out of this half-season malaise (they cannot possibly be this inept at the plate - can they?), can Betts alone turn this program around? I don't think so. Could the new Mookie provide a shot in the arm? Yes, of course. The prospective outfield of Holt in left, Jackie Bradley Jr. in center, and Betts in right won't be giving out too many souvenirs in the bleachers while they are at the bat, but they would be flying around the field.

Bringing up Betts might prove to be a temporary solution to a bigger problem, but Ben Cherington needs to start making some moves outside of shuffling players back and forth between Pawtucket and Boston. The "stay the course" strategy is only digging his team into a deeper hole and unlike the NBA, baseball isn't about rewarding tank jobs. If the Sox promote Betts and start making some other moves it might make things more interesting in the second half of the season. At this point, a little excitement from this team would be a nice thing.